Group Offers To Bargain With Cw

February 27, 1991|By NEIL CORNISH Staff Writer

WILLIAMSBURG — A group of Colonial Williamsburg restaurant and hotel employees trying to oust their union said Tuesday that they are willing to become the bargaining representative for more than 1,400 workers currently under union contract.

Glenn Helseth, spokesman for the Colonial Williamsburg Unit Employees Solutions, which met Tuesday, said the group would replace Local 32 of the Food and Beverage Workers Union ``if that is what it takes to improve the economic situation of our co-workers.''

Helseth said the employees will eventually decide who should lead them in negotiations with Colonial Williamsburg. The group is trying to have Local 32 decertified as the bargaining representative for CW restaurant and hotel employees.

The National Labor Relations Board requires that at least 30 percent of the covered employees sign a decertification petition before such a vote can be held. Helseth declined to release exact numbers, but the group claims to have more than 25 percent of the 420 signatures it needs to force a vote.

In December union members voted down CW's last contract proposal by a 294-15 margin. CW offered a $100 bonus per employee if the contract were ratified. CW also offered a merit bonus of 10 cents an hour worked during the last three quarters of 1991, with the merit bonus rising to 25 cents per hour worked in 1992 and 1993.

Employees who do not receive tips would receive a 20-cent per hour pay hike in 1991, and by another 15 cents an hour in 1992 and 1993. Tip workers would receive lump sum payments ranging from $150 to $250 each year from 1991 through 1993.

Helseth said the group supports the CW proposal, ``compared to what we have now. We're taking a step forward. No one else is taking that step.''

Local 32 members have picketed CW hotels and restaurants since its contract expired Dec. 31 and asked convention and tourist groups to boycott CW until the labor dispute is resolved.

Members of the group looking for different solutions said the boycott request is hurting both employees and CW which reported a 9.5 percent drop in attendance for 1990. Last week CW laid off 70 employees, and earlier trimmed 244 workers through an early retirement program.

Local 32 claims 800 members, although CW officials put the number closer to 700.